12 Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts Series --- Day 7: Men's Shaving Soap

The skin care products that we've made for the 12 Days of Handmade Christmas Gifts series so far are probably not all that exciting for the men in our lives. But we're changing that today because we're making Men's Shaving Soap.

This shaving soap is easy to make, but the results are impressive. You'll get a super creamy, gentle bar that makes a perfect moisturizing shaving soap. And, if you're guy still prefers shaving cream, he can use this as a deep-cleansing facial soap instead.

To make this soap easy enough to whip up in an afternoon, we're using melt and pour soap base. You can find this at any craft store that sells soap-making supplies. If you're new to melt and pour soap, I have a quick melt and pour tutorial here.

The other ingredients -- the bentonite clay and vegetable glycerin -- can usually be found at your local natural foods store.

This soap is nice as-is, without any fragrance added, especially if your man has sensitive skin. But if you need a bit of zest to the soap, try bay rum fragrance oil (look at the craft store in the soap aisle) or essential oils from the health food store. The mix of lavender and sage are a bit hit.

You'll also need:
Small double boiler or a heat-safe bowl placed inside a pot filled with simmering water
Mold for your soap (This can be a store-bought soap mold, or a small tupperwarecontainer.)
Spritz bottle filled with rubbing alcohol

Step 1: Weigh out 12 oz. of melt and pour soap base. If you don't have a scale, most melt and pour soap is scored in cube shapes. Each cube is approximately one ounce. Cut out 12 cubes.

Step 2: Add your soap to the double boiler. Heat over a relatively low setting to allow the soap to gently melt. This will take a few minutes. Stir occasionally.

You can also microwave your soap base, in a microwave-safe bowl on short bursts. Stir often.

Step 3: In the meantime, measure out the bentonite clay, oatmeal powder, and vegetable glycerin into a small bowl. Mix together until you have a smooth paste. You can add small amounts of water until you get a creamy paste-like consistency.

Step 4: Once the soap base is completely melted, add in the clay, oat, and glycerin mixture. Stir gently until the mixture is completely incorporated. Remove from heat.

If you're using fragrance oil or essential oils, stir them in now.

If you're microwaving your soap, you may find your base becomes super thick and unworkable once you add in the clay mixture. Microwave again and stir until melted, then pour into your mold quick!

Step 5: Pour the soap mixture into your soap molds. If you're using individual molds, this will fill 3 (4 oz.) molds. If you're using tupperware, pour the entire mixture into the container. You can handcut each bar to the size and shape you want once it's cooled.

Step 6: Immediately after pouring into the molds, spritz the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol. This will burst any bubbles that formed on the soap. Let the soap sit, undisturbed, for 12 hours.

Step 7: Once the soap is completely cooled and hardened, pop out by placing steady pressure on the bottom side of the mold. (If the soap is being stubborn and not releasing, you can run a non-serrated knife around the sides of the mold to help it pop out more easily.)

Doesn't your shaving soap look nice?

Package it up in a cute cello bag tied with twine. Add in a shaving brush and you've got a super cute gift or stocking stuffer for the guy you love.